Tag: looting

If you’ve followed any of the news reports after disasters like the Tsunami in Southeast Asia, the Earthquake in Haiti and in any number of Refugee Camps around the world, you may have noticed the tents with the blue Rotary International logo on them.

ShelterBox.org

The ”Rotary Shelter Box” maintains a supply of tents, blankets and cooking utilities in kits ready for shipment to areas of the world where people are suddenly in need of shelter and survival necessities. Rotary has been known to get emergency supplies to areas before government agencies even arrive.

ShelterBox tent delivered in Box, along with blankets, cooking utensils, etc.

The kits are shipped from Great Brittan and the Southeast of the U.S. Funding for the effort is provided by donations (at approximately $1,000 per kit) through Rotary Clubs around the world.

Contents of the Box vary depending on where delivered

This has been a very successful emergency relief program and is a concept we recommend you consider for your Emergency Planning.

“For my emergency planning?”

Yes. Consider this. Leaving your damaged home in the midst of a catastrophe could be tantamount to turning it over to looters.

Who is at greatest risk for losing the shelter of their home?

This is hard to predict in a world of changing weather patterns, earthquakes, explosions and fires due to a deteriorating infrastructure and, yes, even potential terrorist threats.

Since we live in earthquake country, this is our greatest potential threat. If our house ever becomes unsafe to inhabit, we’re prepared to take up temporary residence in a tent on the property until we feel safe to move away.

Think “Dual-Purpose.”

As we approach the summer months everyone’s thoughts turn to outside activities, from barbecues to camping and all manner of utensils, battery-powered lanterns, patio furniture and more.

Are we suggesting that you buy a bunch of camping equipment on the chance that you’ll suffer major damage in an as-yet-unknown emergency? No . . . but, if you are in the market for any of these or other recreational items, we suggest that you might want to consider the utility of these items for non-recreational, emergency  use. As you compare products, you may find that on might be more flexible or suitable than another.

There’s no way we can seriously recommend the larger, specific items. Too much depends on your individual circumstances. What’s right for one family may be overkill for another household. What we will do, from time-to-time, is suggest emergency uses for some of the more popular recreational items.

Do you have dual-purpose investments you’ve made? Let us know about them!

Joe Krueger
Your Emergency Plan Guide Team

Update: We have just published a REVIEW of FAMILY CAMPING TENTS.

If your home were damaged, would you want to stay close to protect it? Having an appropriate tent could allow for long-term camping.  Check out this new review.

Doomsday Preppers arm themselves for a total breakdown of society.

Protection against whom?

As we watch some of the reality TV programs on “Doomsday Preppers,” we are appalled at the extent to which many people go to arm themselves against anticipated attackers, looters and other lawless elements.  Some of these folks have virtual armories, full of weapons and ammunition they feel they will need to survive in a world gone mad . . . right out of Mad Max or the Postman, with a total breakdown of society!

Well, here at Emergency Plan Guide we’re not really preparing for that extreme situation.  Our objective is to help you and your neighbors prepare for the possible emergency that would be caused by an earthquake, a local or regional weather phenomenon, an industrial accident or even the unlikely event of a major terrorist attack.  You may have to take care of yourself and your family for a few days until adequate help can arrive.

Will there be looting or other lawless activity?

Perhaps.  But are your neighbors likely to pose a serious threat to your safety because they have been caught unaware and starving?  Probably not.

And even if you were to find yourself in a situation where you were to feel threatened, are you prepared to take another person’s life?

We’re not suggesting you shouldn’t prepare for this kind of eventuality.  That’s a decision you have to make for yourself, depending on where you live and other factors.

One way to minimize the risk . . .

What we are suggesting is that there are things you can do to minimize the risk of this happening.  You can distribute information about preparing for emergencies to the homes, apartment complexes and stores in your area.  In fact, the more successful you and your neighbors are in organizing a Community Emergency Response Team in your neighborhood, the more likely your neighboring communities will become interested . . . and at least take personal responsibility for their own preparations.

Joe Krueger
Your Emergency Plan Guide Team

As a quick distinction . . .

• Survivalists plan to use their wilderness skills and ingenuity to live off the land for however long it takes.
• Preppers plan to survive in the aftermath of an emergency thanks to the preparations they have made, using the supplies they have assembled.